The aqueous solution of baking soda is

Options

A. Acidic
B. Alkaline
C. Neutral
D. Amphoteric

Answer

To determine whether the aqueous solution of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO₃) is acidic, alkaline, neutral, or amphoteric, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Compound**:
- Baking soda is chemically known as sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate, with the formula NaHCO₃.

2. **Understand the Nature of Sodium Bicarbonate**:
- Sodium bicarbonate is a salt derived from a weak acid (carbonic acid, H₂CO₃) and a strong base (sodium hydroxide, NaOH).

3. **Dissociation in Water**:
- When NaHCO₃ is dissolved in water, it dissociates into sodium ions (Na⁺) and bicarbonate ions (HCO₃⁻).

4. **pH Indicator Test**:
- To determine the pH of the solution, we can use a pH indicator such as phenolphthalein.
- In an acidic solution, phenolphthalein remains colorless, while in a basic solution, it turns pink.

5. **Testing with Phenolphthalein**:
- When phenolphthalein is added to the aqueous solution of NaHCO₃, it turns pink, indicating that the solution is basic.

6. **pH Value**:
- The pH of the aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate is typically around 9, which further confirms its basic nature.

7. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the above observations, we conclude that the aqueous solution of baking soda is alkaline in nature.

### Final Answer:
The aqueous solution of baking soda is **alkaline**.